The 4 Best Grab Bars of 2025
Top pick
This compact grab bar doubles as a toilet-paper holder and is the most discreet option we found to add some extra security to your bathroom without advertising your need for assistance.
For a grab bar that blends seamlessly into most bathrooms, we recommend the Moen Brushed Nickel 8″ Grab Bar With Toilet Paper Holder LR2352DBN. It’s pricier than most straight grab bars, but its compact size and clever design make it worth the extra expense. It’s the best choice if you want a discreet grab bar.
No one will know that it’s a grab bar unless you want them to. Grab bars shouldn’t be a cause for shame or embarrassment, but such feelings do bubble up for many people. Unless you specifically tell your guests what this grab bar is, most will assume that it’s a sleek, decorative toilet-paper holder (a few of our testers mistook it for one). If you’re still coming to terms with the fact that you need grab bars, this model is a great first step.
It fits into small bathrooms. Most of the grab bars that we tested are bulky additions that may be hard to fit into many tight bathrooms. At only 8 inches long, this Moen model is smaller than a traditional grab bar, and its clever toilet-paper holder design helps reduce the presence of clutter on the wall.
This dual-use bar is safe and works well. We initially worried that the placement of a toilet-paper roll on this bar could cause an extra slipping hazard. However, the bar is cleverly designed so that even in the last second before a fall, the grab bar is the first thing you reach for rather than the loose toilet-paper roll.
It provides stability in an overlooked spot. Occupational therapist Karen Jacobs told me that many people try to use a toilet-paper holder for stability when getting up from the toilet. Considering that, we’ve concluded that installing this bar could help people avoid a safety hazard, as a regular toilet-paper holder is not sturdy enough for use as a grab bar.
It holds up to 250 pounds. Despite measuring only 8 inches long, this bar has impressive strength and can hold up to 250 pounds of full weight, the same as what many larger, bulkier bars can accommodate.
The included hardware is strong. Grab bars are only as good as their mounts, and during our research we saw online reviews with photos showing too many bars that come with only cheap plastic screws that break easily. Moen includes high-quality metal hardware for all parts of the process, including the anchors necessary to secure the bar to the wall.
The instructions are clear and concise, and they include pictures. The installation instructions were the clearest and most thorough among the bars we tested, and this bar was the only model to come with a template showing where to drill the holes to prevent measuring errors. Though the instructions are written in three languages and have accompanying pictures, they still manage to be only a few small pages long. Each step is clearly communicated, and special features such as the mounting options are explained in easy-to-understand language.
The toilet-paper holder is easy to refill for anyone. One of our favorite surprises was how effortless it was to refill the toilet-paper roll. Whereas many holders have mechanisms that can be hard on arthritic hands or for those with fine-motor issues, changing the roll on this holder is a breeze. After two years of using this particular grab bar in my bathroom, I’ve never seen the toilet paper become accidentally dislodged.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The smooth surface isn’t slip resistant, so wet or soapy hands may slide. However, because this bar isn’t intended for use in the shower or bath, this potential issue isn’t a dealbreaker.
You can’t just put it anywhere. Because this model is specifically designed as a toilet-paper holder, it isn’t as versatile as some of the other grab bars we tested, which can work well anywhere in the bathroom or home. But this bar does one specific job and does it well.
Its short length means there’s less to grab. Compared with a traditional, straight grab bar, this model doesn’t have as much surface area or length to hold on to.
The packaging was difficult to open. This could be a challenge for someone with limited dexterity.
It isn’t ADA-compliant as a grab bar. Any bar this short can’t be compliant, however, and its compact design is what makes it so appealing.
